COLUMNS

A recent pilot project supported by the Government of Alberta and led by the Wood Manufacturing Council (WMC) set out to answer a practical question for the woodworking industry: what actually helps attract and retain a broader workforce in…

Monarch Cabinetry is a cabinet shop in the Kelowna area of B.C., where owner Nick Koenig has turned years of jobsite experience into a small, contractor-focused operation. Koenig launched Monarch in June 2025, after nearly 15 years with…

Canadian consumers are redefining what home means and how much they’re willing to invest in it. Rising disposable incomes, shifting demographics and a renewed sense of national pride are fuelling a surge in spending on furniture, decor and…

Making good decisions quickly, at every level of your business, is key to efficiency, effectiveness and success. Yes, there are some key decisions that need to be mulled over and thoughtfully considered, but every day there are countless…

Technological maturity is not defined by how much software a business has purchased or how many digital tools it can list. It reflects how well technology supports the company’s strategy, day-to-day processes, and long-term goals.

Traditional top-down approaches that undermine employee engagement and fail to address their concerns aren't proving successful in today's dynamic and competitive landscape.

Your manager is buried. They’re unpacking materials at 6:00 a.m., fixing a display or setup that nobody else can seem to get right, covering a call-out on the floor, and trying to squeeze in interviews for the third assistant manager who…

Across industries such as food processing, pulp and paper, ceramics, engineered wood, biomass, and chemicals, manufacturers are recognizing that moisture measurement is not merely about compliance with specifications; it is about…

In any business, there are often surface problems that are essentially just symptoms of more profound issues. These underlying problems are the real or fundamental issues that are the root causes of what's going wrong. Business owners,…

If you’ve managed to recruit an employee from a competitor, congrats. But before you put together the onboarding package and schedule the welcome lunch, there are potential risks to be aware of, which may impact your strategy in the hiring…

Employee retention is crucial for the long-term success of any business. The costs of hiring, orientation and training can pile up, and having to fill the same position multiple times can be frustrating, significantly impacting…

People and organizations are increasingly seeking solutions that not only reduce negative environmental impacts but ensure positive contributions to the long-term health of people and the planet. Forest certification utilizes a set of…

Consumer Reports has released its first-ever ratings of kitchen appliance brands. The 2026 rankings are for cooktops, ranges, wall ovens, dishwashers and refrigerators. LG emerged as the top brand in several categories and is consistently…

Businesses are generally made up of a number of groups of employees from superstar top performers to toxic troublemakers. They all need to be managed differently because they’re not ‘wired’ the same. Here are the four main types and how to…

These days, people scroll more than they stroll. For brands in the home goods sector, that means your presence on social media isn’t optional. It’s where inspiration strikes, customers do their homework and loyalty begins.

At the end of each year, design minds forecast trends for the ensuing 12 months. Canadian furniture wholesaler and retailer Moe’s Home Collection surveyed nearly 500 interior designers, retailers and buyers to capture their insights on…

The built environment is rife with sensory stimuli that can pose barriers to people who could be valuable contributors in the workplace. An estimated 15 to 20% of people in North America identify as neurodivergent, but this figure likely…

In the Okanagan’s mid to high-end residential market, Amber Millwork stands out by making interior and exterior doors that perform and present like furniture. The Kelowna shop’s focus is specialist doors, supported by design insight,…